Current Fellows
Aurece Aubrey Bahala is a training expert and program coordinator with the Institute for Autonomy and Governance, a policy, research, and training center in southern Philippines. She works to build governance capacity of political parties, civil society, Indigenous peoples, former combatants, marginalized groups, and officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). These stakeholders are involved in the transitional period negotiated to resolve the decades-long conflict in Mindanao. Aubrey previously worked on climate change and human security with the German Agency for International Cooperation, and as a college instructor. She has a Masters in public administration and public policy from the University of the Philippines and a BA in political science. During the Humphrey Fellowship, Aubrey aims to learn how civil society organizations in transitional countries shape public policies and institutions. She will engage with organizations that have global expertise with empowering marginalized groups to assert their rights and collective interests in governance, institution-building and policymaking.
Falume Dade is a sociologist working as a sustainability specialist. He has worked with Eni Rovuma Basin, a global energy company with natural gas operations in Mozambique. He has also worked as a community liaison officer and field coordinator in the oil and gas sector, promoting communication between communities and companies about the social and environmental impacts of their operations. His responsibilities have included designing, implementing and monitoring community projects and social programs related to education, health, youth empowerment, and other topics. He is committed to public service and community empowerment, and is involved in initiatives to support internally displaced people affected by violent extremism in his home region. Falume has a BA in sociology from Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique. During the Humphrey Fellowship, he aims to improve his knowledge and skills related to social policy design, implementation and evaluation. He also seeks to learn about strategies for effective advocacy with policymakers to promote socio-economic development and sustainability.
Andress Hamenda is the founder and chief executive officer of Punya Harapan, a civil society organization that delivers sustainable vocational education and reintegration support for youth in Indonesia’s juvenile justice system. This organization has offered programming in at least one-third of Indonesia’s juvenile prisons, reaching about half of the juvenile prison population. Andress has Masters degrees in management from Australian National University in Australia and from Coventry University in England, and a BA in management from Sam Ratulangi University in Indonesia. During the Humphrey Fellowship, Andress plans to improve his knowledge of children’s human rights, public and social policy analysis, and non-profit management. He aims to learn about US approaches to prison education and reintegration for youth, and prevention of forced labor in prisons. With the insights he gains, he plans to formulate Indonesia’s first national child safeguarding guidelines, develop innovative management practices, and propose policy reforms to public and private institutions working with children.
Tony Herdianto is an environmental protection expert. He serves as the World Resources Institute’s Liaison Officer for the Low Carbon Development Initiative in West Papua, Indonesia. In this role, he coordinates and engages with Indigenous and local communities and provincial officials about low-carbon initiatives. He manages projects, coordinates research, raises awareness, and promotes community participation in environmental policymaking. Previously, Tony worked with the Government of West Papua as a sustainable tourism consultant, and with a consortium on vocational education in agriculture. He founded the Doreka Foundation (Yayasan Dore Karui Indonesia) initiative to promote development through environmental education. In the future, Tony aims to serve as a diplomat. Tony has a Masters in international relations from Universitas Gadjah Mada. His Humphrey Fellowship goals include deepening his knowledge about climate policy, bolstering his leadership skills, and gaining practical experience with data analysis, policy formulation, and persuasive communication.
Bobur Khodjaev is an economist and the Economic Unit Head in the Office of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In that role, he evaluates the economic implications of policy decisions, prepares sector updates, and develops policy positions on financial sector development priorities. Previously, Bobur worked with the Asian Development Bank in Manila and the Fund for Reconstruction and Development in Tashkent. He believes that policymakers must address how economic policies impact social and gender inequalities, and is an advocate for government accountability. Bobur has a Masters in finance from the University of Cambridge in England and a BA in economics from the Tashkent Institute of Railway Engineering. His Humphrey Fellowship goals include building his capacity to shape economic development policies to reduce poverty and promote employment and social progress. He also wants to learn about innovative approaches to public-private partnerships in the energy, infrastructure, transport, housing, and urban development sectors.
Ioana Morar is a psychologist, and is the Deputy General Director of Romania’s National Administration of Penitentiaries. During 13 years with this agency, she has been in charge of rehabilitation, health care, human resources, staff psychology, labor, security, and legal issues. Previously, Ioana was the Director of the Social Reintegration Department, and was the Head of Psychological Assistance for Gherla Penitentiary. She is on several professional advisory bodies, including for Penal Reform International, the European Prison Education Association, and a Council of Europe initiative on penological cooperation. Ioana has a PhD in psychology from the University of Bucharest, Masters degrees in law, criminal science, and sociology, and a BA in psychology. During the Humphrey Fellowship, she aims to improve her leadership skills and learn about innovative approaches to criminal justice and prison administration. She will use what she learns to improve policies and programs related to rehabilitation of incarcerated people, and to help establish an institute for prison administration in Romania.
Peter Moraleli Motloli is a law enforcement expert focused on human trafficking. In his most recent position, he was a Detective Inspector of the Lesotho Mounted Police Service. He led the Criminal Investigations Division, which handles human trafficking cases. Peter has collaborated with nongovernmental organizations to prevent trafficking and protect survivors. He also facilitated police training college workshops on human rights and combating police brutality, and led the police labor association. Peter has a Masters in political science and a BA in development studies, politics and administration from the National University of Lesotho. During the Humphrey Fellowship, Peter seeks to deepen his knowledge of human trafficking responses, including ways to investigate and hold police and immigration officials accountable for complicity in trafficking. He aims to learn about best practices related to victim identification, protection, and services, and models of human trafficking laws and policies.
Jean Philippe Ouédraogo is an economist and serves as the Chief of Monitoring and Evaluation in Burkina Faso’s Ministry of the Environment, Green Economy and Climate Change. His work helps ensure that the Ministry and its policies promote wellbeing of communities and advance environmental protection. He is active in public service, including planting trees, promoting girls’ education, nutrition, and political participation, raising awareness about the dangers of female genital mutilation, and encouraging environmentally sound farming practices. Ouédraogo has a graduate degree in economics and management, and a BA in economic sciences, from the University of Ouaga II in Burkina Faso. During the Humphrey Fellowship, Ouédraogo aims to improve his leadership skills, learn about public policy design and analysis, and gain skills related to results-based management and monitoring, evaluation, and learning. Upon his return to Burkina Faso, he intends to lead and provide technical assistance with public policy efforts to improve communities’ well-being.
Airlin Pérez Carrascal is an anti-racist human rights activist and community organizer. She is the Executive Director of Untú Raices Foundation, an organization that mobilizes grassroots groups and Afro-Colombian communities in Cartagena, Bolivar, to promote peace and racial justice. Previously, she worked as a research assistant with academic institutes and a children’s rights foundation. Airlin’s work focuses on police brutality against young Colombians in marginalized neighborhoods, and structural racism against young Black women in a context of State violence. She works to expose human rights violations, strengthen grassroots organizations, and advance peace and justice for youth and Afro-descendant women. She plans to establish an observatory on racial justice and reparations for Black communities. Airlin has a Masters of international development cooperation and a BA in education from the Universidad San Buenaventura, Cartagena. Her goals for the Humphrey Fellowship include enhancing her leadership skills and learning about strategies for promoting minority rights, social development, and peacebuilding through restorative justice approaches.
Maria Leticia Risco is a lawyer, and serves as the Coordinator of the Federal Missing Persons System in Argentina’s Ministry of Security. She leads a team that designed the missing persons system and the nationwide policies and plans on disappearances and missing persons. She coordinates with police, prosecutors, forensic experts, and the media, including when issuing missing persons alerts. Leticia previously worked as an advisor in the Institutional Transparency Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, and as an attorney in a law firm. She has a BA in law from the Universidad Nacional de Tucumán and post-graduate certificates in criminology, management, public policy, and public security from several universities in Argentina. During her Humphrey Fellowship year, she seeks to learn about US approaches to handling and investigating missing persons cases, including through use of databases, forensic DNA data banks, technology and other resources. She also aims to bolster her public speaking skills.
Leakhena Saroeurn is a Country Manager for SHE Investments. This social enterprise works to build a gender-responsive ecosystem to help women-led micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises to scale up, access financial capital, and transition to the formal economy. Leakhena works with national and international partners to bring entrepreneurship support services to hundreds of women entrepreneurs through incubator and accelerator programs and access to finance. She has collaborated with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs to support a strategic plan and assist women business owners with financial management. She has a BA in tourism management from the Royal University of Phnom Penh and a certificate in environmental studies. During the Humphrey Fellowship, Leakhena plans to expand her knowledge of policy design and implementation, and to learn about US approaches to community economic development and supporting women-owned businesses. She also aims to deepen her public relations and leadership skills.
Ali Üstünyer is an economist and serves as the Senior Social Policy and Development Specialist in Turkey’s Ministry of Family and Social Services. His work focuses on poverty reduction, employment, social inclusion, and social assistance and protection. Ali helped develop Turkey’s Integrated Social Assistance System, which has 30 million people enrolled. Previously, he worked as an Assistant Trade Expert with the Ministry of Trade. Ali has a Masters in international social and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he was awarded a full Scholarship from the Chevening Programme, and a BA in economics from Bilkent University in Turkey. During the Humphrey Fellowship, Ali aims to learn about international best practices for social policies and programs on basic income for people living in poverty. He also plans to deepen his understanding of social policy analysis and design.